Lake Tahoe is awesome!
Beginning in late autumn and continuing through the winter and spring, the
Sierra Nevada mountain region becomes a winter wonderland. Snow is measured
in feet, not inches, and a normal winter will see accumulations of 30 to 40
feet in the higher elevations. Winter can last up to six months in the
mountains, which is great news for winter sports enthusiasts. The
temperatures stay relatively mild, usually above freezing during the day and
only dropping into the 20s at night. During most days, the sun shines and
adds the perfect finishing touch to the ideal winter vacation.
One
of the highest, largest, deepest, cleanest and coldest lakes in the world,
1000 foot deep Lake Tahoe is situated at a mile high elevation in an alpine
bowl of forested granite peaks. The drive around the entire circumference of
Lake Tahoe is 72 miles in length and takes about three hours. It is
recommended during the summer months only. During the winter,
Highway 89, which runs along the west shore and connects South Tahoe and
Tahoe City closes when there is too much snow. A delightful
alternative to driving around the lake is to view it from a paddle wheeler
on a summer cruise.
The
early-mid years of the 20th century saw tremendous building and
deforestation in the Lake Tahoe area. The building boom was brought
under control in the 1960’s, and 85% of the land is now protected from
development. The undeveloped land is owned either by the state or federal
governments, and has been turned into National Forests and State Parks,
further enhancing the appeal of this spectacular place.
The
Lake Tahoe region straddles the Nevada/California border. The state line
cuts through the lake lengthwise, so that the western shore is in
California; the eastern shore in Nevada and some properties situated north
and south of the Lake are in both States. One such hotel even has a
dotted line running through its rooms to indicate in which State occupants
are located.
During
normal snow years, many ski resorts are open by Thanksgiving and some even
operate through July 4. As a result, summer visitors can ski in the morning
and enjoy a pleasant afternoon of river rafting. During any lulls in
snowfall, ski resorts make snow. Most resorts have installed sophisticated
snowmaking equipment on a large percentage of their terrain.
The
North and South Lake Tahoe areas have the greatest concentration of ski
resorts in North America, with 15 alpine resorts and 12 cross-country
resorts offering a wide range of terrain and level of expertise. For the
novice skier or snowboarder, lessons are offered at most of the resorts.
Also
offered are packages, which include rental equipment, maps, lift tickets or
trail passes, along with lessons.
Other
popular activities include sleigh rides, dog sled rides, snowshoeing, ice
skating, snowmobiling in the fall, winter, and spring; and in the summer:
golf, hiking, bicycling, fishing, boating, ballooning, and river rafting.
Superb casino gaming and entertainment are available year round. The
Olympic games and World Cup skiing have both been hosted by Lake Tahoe.
It is a world-class destination.
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